Austin Lee: Shirley Sherrod and Imus

Until last week I had never heard of Shirley Sherrod. Apparently she was a government worker charged with helping struggling farmers here in the State of Georgia. The entire situation surrounding Sherrod is a statement she made during an NAACP event earlier this year.

In this speech she talked about how she was confronted with having to help a white farmer that (by her description) was acting a little snooty toward her because she was black. She recounted "I didn’t give him the full force of what I could do. I did enough…” (This was met by at least one person's whole hearted agreement with that action toward a white farmer.)

Now, the part of her speech where she said this was wrapped on either side by a very good description of how she used to act this way, but realized that it isn't about black and white: It's about poor people. (I agree with her 100% on this point.) In the end she returned to that white farmer and helped to save his farm.

The part of the whole deal that I find crazy is that Andrew Breitbart pulled only the damaging clips to portray her as a racist and the NAACP (after condemning her) only touted her revelation that her actions were wrong.

The truth of the matter is that she did act in a racially motivated way toward this white farmer and his family. Regardless of her subsequent actions she did violate the non-discrimination policy of the State of Georgia and the United States of America.

Here is my question: Why can she be let off the hook and Don Imus can't? Imus made a racially charged statement on his radio program and later apologized. He has walked the straight and narrow ever since. On more than one occasion he has reiterated his remorse for those statements.

I haven't heard the NAACP or other organizations demanding he be reinstated to his position since he has changed his ways. Yet, Shirley Sherrod, who admitted that she acted in a racially motivated way is being offered a new job.

I just don't get it. I don't think she should have been fired, I think Andrew Breitbart acted very unethically, and I think the NAACP, USDA, The Obama Administration and FoxNews did a HORRIBLE job reviewing all of the evidence before giving her the boot.

BUT - The fact remains: Shirley Sherrod and Don Imus are both guilty of the same offense. Only one of them is now a martyr. That is sad.